Fourth Snohomish County flu death confirmed

The number of people in Snohomish County who have died of influenza this season has risen to four.A Stanwood-area man in his 90s died Jan. 8 of influenza, Tim McDonald, who heads the Snohomish Health District's communicable disease division, said Friday.The man also had an underlying health condition that was not disclosed.Three other Snohomish County residents died in December from the flu, a Bothell woman in her 40s and two women in their 80s, one from Everett and one from Edmonds.In Washington, 12 people have died from the flu, according to the state Department of Health. Influenza is now widespread in the state.The hospitalizations and deaths follow warnings from public health officials that influenza could hit unusually hard this year.So far, 66 people in Snohomish County have been hospitalized with influenza.Seattle Children's Hospital has had as many as 13 pediatric patients test positive for flu each day, spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said.Local clinics have reported a surge in patients asking for flu shots this week. Some clinics and pharmacies said they were running low midweek and had to order more.Any adult who still wants the shot is advised to call ahead to make sure their local pharmacy or clinic still has the vaccine.Safeway and Bartell pharmacies said on Thursday that more adult flu vaccine was being shipped.The Community Health Center of Snohomish County received 410 additional doses of adult vaccine this week."We haven't been able to find a source to order more," said LuAnne Kay, spokeswoman for the nonprofit clinics.The Snohomish Health District has up to 680 doses of free adult flu vaccine available for uninsured and low income adults. Its first flu shot clinic was held Friday in Everett. Another flu shot clinic is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 26 at Comcast Arena in Everett.Sheryl Day, clinic services manager at Edmonds Family Medicine, said that the clinic has gone through about 7,000 doses of adult vaccine. The 500 doses arriving this week should supply the clinic for about two weeks.The Everett Clinic was resupplied with 3,000 doses of adult flu vaccine on Wednesday, but was told there was no more available."There's been so much attention to the seriousness of the flu this yea that demand for the vaccine skyrocketed rapidly in the last week," said April Zepeda, clinic spokeswoman.Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.comFree flu shotsThe Snohomish Health District is offering free flu shots to uninsured and low income adults from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 26 at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave. in Everett.

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